Pakistan to have new envoy as USA imposes restrictions

Bobbie Reid |Saturday, May 12, 2018

The movement of Pakistani diplomatic staff's limited to 40 kilometres from their posts

In an apparent tit-for-tat, Pakistan placed retaliatory travel restrictions Friday on American diplomats and withdrew concessions it had granted to USA missions, dealing a major fresh blow to what has been described as "strayed" bilateral relations.

The US government has sent an official notice in this regard to the Pakistani embassy.

Additionally, non-diplomatic number plates given to hide diplomatic status for protection will also be taken back, it added.

Earlier, the restrictions were to come into effect from May 1, but they were deferred as the two sides made a decision to resolve the issue.

Earlier, Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Aizaz Chaudhry confirmed that, from today, Pakistani diplomatic staff and their families would need permission at least five days in advance, if they needed to travel outside of the imposed 25-mile radius in the US.

Congressman Norcross said that Pakistan and India both faced the same security challenges, which also concerned the United States.

Addressing a meeting of the Pakistani American Congress on Capitol Hill, a Congressman, Donald Norcros, called for dialogue to ease tension, adding, "And if (by imposing those restrictions) we are inhibiting conversation, I do not think that's a smart thing to do".

It has been further reported that back-door negotiations are underway between the two countries.

Both developments come amid increasing tensions between the USA and Pakistan, which were once close allies in the 'war against terrorism'.

Congressman Thomas R. Suozzi, a New York Democrat, put it bluntly, saying that in the USA "everyone is focused now on the Afghan-Pakistan border, not Kashmir".

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